The first-ever Dhaka International Foto Fest came to a close on Wednesday, amid fanfare and amalgamation of local and international photographers.
The event, which was launched on Sunday, concluded with a ceremony, where one of the pioneer photographers of Bangladesh, Manzoor Alam Beg, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of Dhaka University Photographic Society (DUPS).
Dhaka Int’l Foto Fest was organized jointly by the DUPS and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
BSA’s director, Dr Kazi Asaduzzaman, announced the names of winners in various categories.
Tahia Farhin Haque won the first position in the single photograph discipline, while Nawshin Ahmed and Shahnewaz were first and second runners up respectively.
Indian photographer Sharafat Ali’s “Uncertain Identity” bagged the best portfolio award, while another Indian, Ronita Roy, was given honorary mention for hers.
During the festival, 145 single photographs were showcased, while 16 photo stories were also exhibited. Selected photographs from DUPS’s 12th annual photography exhibition were also on display.
A panel of judges shortlisted the photos from 6,537 photos in single category, 97 photo stories and 34 photographs of DUPS members.
The panel consisted of Abir Abdullah, principal of Pathsahala South Asian Media Institute, Saiful Huq Omi, principal of Counter Foto and photographer Taslima Akhter.
DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman had previously inaugurated the program through a rally at the university premises, where TSC Student Adviser Dr Soumitra Shekhar was also present.
Professor Sadeka Halim, dean of Faculty of Social Science inaugurated the Gallery no 5 and 6 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
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Most of the photos were amassed in a red tent in front of Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) premises, while another portion were displayed at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Photographer Sharafat Ali’s portraits upheld the violence of Kashmir, while photos from Bosnia, Ukraine, Canada, as well as other countries were also up for display.
The cultures of different countries and societies were also captured in frames of internationally-acclaimed photographers who had participated in the festival.
At the Shilpakala Academy premises, pictures such as the riots in Bosnia, captured by the importance of religious-social beliefs and culture were also praised.
The Dhaka University Photographic Society (DUPS) organizes photography festivals annually to promote photography in Bangladesh. This is the first time the society has organized an event on an international scale.
Dhaka Tribune was the media partner for the event.
